Friday, September 10, 2010

The Northrup T-38 Talon

Back in 1968-69 I had the distinct privilege of being an Air Force pilot trainee. That year of 53 weeks (one week over a year) included flying three different aircraft at various phases of training. The last aircraft was the T-38 which was a supersonic high performance two seat trainer which was later used in Vietnam as a fighter bomber aircraft. Needless to say flying this bird was a major rush especially when they let us take it out on solo flights. This short video gives you an idea of the simple beauty of this incredible aircraft.
  John G. Magee whose poem "High Flight" is read during the video was a Royal Canadian Air Force pilot during the Battle of Britain. An American, who turned down a Yale scholarship to enlist in the Canadian Air Force in order to get in the war, was only 19 years old when left to fly Spitfires in England. The poem was written during his service tour.


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